Asarum plant named ‘Nonertsul’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Asarum europaeum plant named ‘Nonertsul’ that is characterized by its long petioles, its large leaves that are kidney-shaped and very dark green in color with a very shiny surface, its vigorous growth habit, and its flowers that are large in size and held beneath the foliage.

Botanical classification: Asarum europaeum.

Cultivar designation: ‘Nonertsul’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Asarum europaeum, is hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Nonertsul’. ‘Nonertsul’ represents a new herbaceous perennial, European ginger, grown for use as a landscape plant.

‘Nonertsul’ was discovered by the Inventors as a chance seedling in their home garden in Grand Haven, Mich. in June of 2010 amongst plants of unnamed and unpatented plants of Asarum europaeum that were growing in the garden. The exact parents are therefore unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventors by division in June of 2010 in Grand Haven, Mich. Propagation by division has determined the characteristics to be stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Nonertsul’ as a new and unique cultivar of Asarum.

-   -   1. ‘Nonertsul’ exhibits long petioles.     -   2. ‘Nonertsul’ exhibits large leaves that are kidney-shaped and         very dark green in color with a very shiny surface.     -   3. ‘Nonertsul’ exhibits a vigorous growth habit.     -   4. ‘Nonertsul’ exhibits flowers that are large in size and held         beneath the foliage.     -   5. Petals none.

‘Nonertsul’ can be compared to typical plants of the species Asarum europaeum, including those growing in the area of discovery. Typical plants of Asarum europaeum differ from ‘Nonertsul’ in having smaller flowers with smaller flower buds that are less covered by cataphylls, and that are more maroon in color, smaller and more numerous leaves that are lighter green in color, a more compact plant habit, shorter plant height, petioles that are shorter, less strong, and held at in a more whorled angle, and a less vigorous growth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Asarum. The photographs were taken of a plant 18 months in age in age as grown outdoors in a garden in Grand Haven, Mich.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a top view of ‘Nonertsul’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘Nonertsul’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Asarum.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 18-month-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in a landscape bed Grand Haven, Mich. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Spring in Michigan.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Clump-forming, mounded habit.         -   Height and spread.—Average of 13 cm in height and 27 cm in             width.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 4.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility and resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed, however black spot             (causative agent could be Pseudomonas sp. or a number of             fungus species) has not been observed on the new cultivar             although observed on other Asarum europaeum growing in the             area.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, fibrous and dense, 161D in color.         -   Branching habit.—No branches, leaves grow from the base,             flower blooms at the base.         -   Propagation.—Division.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Reniform.         -   Leaf division.—Single.         -   Leaf base.—Cordate, lobes at the base slightly overlapping             and curled.         -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf venation.—Palmate, color of upper surface; 145A, color             lower surface; 139A.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire and slightly undulate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface is very glossy, leathery and             slightly rugose, lower surface is slightly glossy and             rugose, both surfaces are rough to the touch due to being             moderately pubescent with short hairs, more densely on the             veins; average of 0.3 mm in length and NN155D in color and             slightly translucent.         -   Leaf color.—Young and mature upper surface; darker than             NN137A and slightly tinged with 203A, young and mature lower             surface; 148A.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 8 cm in length and 10 cm in width,             lobe depth 3 cm, opening width 1 cm.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 21.         -   Petioles.—Average of 11 cm in length and 3 mm in width,             color 144A, slightly flushed at the base with 184A, densely             covered with short stiff pubescent hairs, 0.3 mm in length,             NN155C in color. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary, terminal and nodding, held             below the foliage.         -   Flower fragrance.—Slightly fresh and pungent, ginger-like.         -   Flower quantity.—3 per stem.         -   Flower lastingness.—Average of two weeks.         -   Flower buds.—Ovate, covered in cataphyll, flattened in             shape, spear-shaped, pointed apex, cordate base, average of             3.5 cm in depth and 1.5 cm in width, color 144A, slightly             flushed at the base with 184A, densely covered with short             stiff pubescent hairs, 0.3 mm in length, NN155C in color.         -   Flower shape.—Bell shaped.         -   Flower aspect.—Held upright to horizontal.         -   Flower size.—Up to 1.5 cm in depth, 1.2 cm in width.         -   Sepals.—3, in a star shape, broadly obovate in shape, lower             40% fused at base, margin is entire, about 1 cm in length             and 3 mm in width, narrowly acuminate and reflexed tips,             upper and lower surfaces are glossy and moderately velvety,             outer surface heavily covered with long, soft woolly hairs             NN155A in color, 3 mm in length, color: when opening upper             side; N186A, when opening lower side; 187A, when fully             opened upper side; 187A, when fully opened lower side;             N186A.         -   Cataphyll.—6 in three layers, upper layers; 2, held directly             on each side of the flower up to 3 cm in length and width,             opposite, reniform in shape, margins are entire, apex is             rounded, cordate base, both surfaces are very glossy, stem             and base of cataphyll heavily covered with long, soft woolly             hairs NN155A in color, 3 mm in length, color of upper             (inner) surface 139A, color of lower (outer) surface N187A,             middle layers; 2, held below the upper layers up to 1.5 cm             in length, 1 cm in width, opposite, reniform in shape,             margins are entire, apex is bluntly acute, cordate base,             both surfaces are very glossy, base and tips of cataphyll             heavily covered with long, soft woolly hairs NN155A in             color, 1.5 mm in length, color of both surfaces a blend of             144A and N186A and 157A, lower layers; 2 held at the very             base 1 cm in length, 5 mm in width, opposite, ovate in             shape, margins are entire, apex is acute, base is fused,             both surfaces are very glossy and becoming dry as the             mature, base and tips of cataphyll heavily covered with soft             woolly hairs NN155A in color, 0.5 mm in length, color of             both surfaces a blend of 144A and N186A.         -   Receptacle.—5 mm in diameter. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistils; 6, 2 mm in length, stigma; club-shaped             and N187A in color, style; is 1.8 mm in length and N155C in             color, ovary; 4 mm in length and diameter, rounded, ovules;             many tiny round ovules inside ovary, glossy surface, 0.5 mm             in diameter, NN155A in color.         -   Androecium.—8 stamens, anther; attached at the base, oval             and bifid in shape, 0.5 mm in diameter, 182B and 183B in             color, filament; 3 mm in length, 183A in color, base fused             to anthers, pollen; moderate in quantity, NN155A in color.         -   Seed.—No fruits or seed detected to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Asarum plant named ‘Nonertsul’ as herein illustrated and described. 